Metro Health Department Names Director

Dr. Sanmi Areola will serve as the director of health for the Metro Public Health Department, the department announced Tuesday. 

Areola most recently served as deputy chief administrative officer for health and human services and education for Prince George's County, Md. But he began his career at the Metro Public Health Department as a toxicologist and worked for the department for 17 years, serving in various roles. These included deputy director and two separate assignments as interim director of health, according to a press release. 

The department interviewed three other candidates in addition to Areola: Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation; Danette York, formerly public health director for Butte County, Calif.; and Amy Yeager, public health director for Bell County, Texas, the Nashville Banner reported. 

Areola received his B.S. degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 1988, and his Ph.D. in environmental toxicology from Texas Southern University in Houston in 1998. He was a postdoctoral fellow with the Baylor College of Medicine Neuroscience Division in Houston from 1998 to 2002.

Metro Health Department Director to Leave Post

Gill Wright served one three-year term, handling pandemic restrictions, resignations

Areola replaces Gill Wright, who had served in the role for one three-year term following the resignation of Michael Caldwell. Wright oversaw pandemic restrictions and opioid abatement processes and announced his plans to leave the organization earlier this year.  

Joanna Shaw-KaiKai began serving as interim director of health in August and will continue in the role until Areola moves to the top spot in February. 

“Dr. Sanmi Areola knows Nashville well,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell says in the release. “I am excited for his vision that is both rich in technical understanding but also in appreciation for what it means to effectively serve residents of Nashville. Protecting the health and well-being of our community is a foundational pursuit for Metro Nashville government, and I am excited for the work ahead with Dr. Areola.”

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.